Time-based browser toolbar configurations according to at least two predefined time-based browsing settings

ABSTRACT

The present invention generally provides a method, article of manufacture and apparatus for establishing time-based browser configurations. A browser is configured according to predetermined parameters when a time-condition is satisfied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to data-processing. More particularly, theinvention relates to configuring browser settings.

2. Background of the Related Art

Computer networks were developed to allow multiple computers tocommunicate with each other. In general, a network can include acombination of hardware and software that cooperate to facilitate thedesired communications. One example of a computer network is theInternet, a sophisticated worldwide network of computer systemresources.

Networks, such as the Internet, require a network browser to enablenavigation between network addresses. A browser is an applicationprogram or facility that normally resides on a user's workstation andwhich is invoked when the user decides to access network addresses. Aprior art Internet browser program typically accesses a given networkaddress according to an addressing format known as a uniform resourcelocator (URL). The browser also processes each type of data which ispresented to it, and forwards and receives data to and from the network.State-of-the-art browsers provide a complete multimedia experience,including video, pictures, 3-D images, sounds and the like.

In addition, browsers provide useful features that facilitate managementof the voluminous information encountered by users while browsing. Forexample, most commercially available Internet browsers (e.g., Netscape'sNavigator® and Windows' Explorer®) provide a history folder containingrecently visited network addresses (e.g., web sites) and a bookmarkfolder to which a user can store network addresses for future retrieval.

In order to accommodate the particular preferences of multiple users,some aspects of browsers are customizable. For example, browsers ofteninclude one or more toolbars, e.g., personal toolbars which areconfigurable by the user. Other configurable features include thecolors, fonts, display attributes and the like.

The user may configure different browser tool bars and settings toaccomplish different tasks. For example, a user may configure a toolbarto display frequently used features such as a “print” button or “email”button and the like. Browsers may also be configured to allow the userto start with a particular default network address (i.e., homepage).These and other configurable settings and features are well known withinbrowsing technology.

In some applications, it is necessary to reconfigure the browsersettings numerous times within a given time interval (e.g., in a day).Consider the case where college students are using specific browsersettings for a first period French class and different browser settingsfor a second period Algebra class. For example, the students of theAlgebra class may prefer a homepage setting (e.g., www.algebra.com)related to Algebra while the French students prefer a homepage settingrelated to French (e.g., www.French.com). Because the application of thebrowser is substantially different, the browser must be manuallyconfigured for each class. Currently, the only method or systemavailable to remedy this condition is for each student to manuallyreconfigure the browser for each class homepage. One option is to use an“options” disk containing user-specific configuration information.Another conventional solution is to cause reconfigurations to occur inresponse to login information.

However, such options are undesirable because of the possibility forerrors in attempting to synchronize some or all of the browser settingsand related information and the loss in productivity during the initialconfiguration process. Therefore, it is desirable to provide time-basedbrowser configuration to suit a particular event environment in aconvenient and configurable manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a method, article ofmanufacture and apparatus for establishing time-based browserconfigurations. In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided forconfiguring browser settings for a browser program executable on acomputer connected to a network of computers, wherein the browserprogram is configurable according to at least two browser settings, themethod comprising configuring the browser program with at least one ofthe at least two browser settings when a time-value condition issatisfied.

In another aspect of the invention, a signal-bearing media containing aprogram is provided for configuring browser settings for a browserprogram executable on a computer connected to a network of computers,wherein the browser program is configurable according to at least twobrowser settings, the configuration program when executed by aprocessor, performs a method, comprising configuring the browser programwith one or more of the at least two browser settings when a time-valuecondition is satisfied.

Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a computer systemconnected to a network of computers, the computer system comprising aprocessor and a memory containing a browser and at least two browserconfiguration settings; and a program which, when executed the computeris configured to perform the steps comprising configuring the browserprogram with at least one or more of at least two browser configurationsettings when a time-value condition is satisfied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages andobjects of the present invention are attained and can be understood indetail, a more particular description of the invention, brieflysummarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereofwhich are illustrated in the appended drawings.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate onlytypical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to beconsidered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to otherequally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 depicts a data-processing system in which the preferredembodiment may be implemented.

FIG. 2 depicts a browser graphical user interface display screenallowing the user to select the various browser configurations.

FIG. 3 illustrates homepage data records related to a time-based browserconfiguration.

FIG. 4 illustrates bookmark data records related to a time-based browserconfiguration.

FIG. 5 illustrates toolbar configuration data records related to atime-based browser configuration.

FIG. 6 illustrates visited network address data records related to atime-based browser configuration.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow diagram of a method for configuring time-basedbrowser settings.

FIG. 8 depicts a flow diagram of a method for rendering a time-basedhomepage record.

FIG. 9 depicts a flow diagram of a method for configuring time-basedtoolbar settings.

FIG. 10 depicts a flow diagram of a method for configuring time-basedbookmark data.

FIG. 11 depicts a flow diagram of a method for marking network addresslinks visited during a particular day, and time of day, on a currentlyrendered page.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention generally provides a method, article ofmanufacture and apparatus for establishing time-based browserconfigurations. As will be described below, aspects of the preferredembodiment pertain to specific method steps implementable on computersystems.

In one embodiment, the invention may be implemented as a computerprogram-product for use with a computer system. The programs definingthe functions of the preferred embodiment can be provided to a computervia a variety of signal-bearing media, which include but are not limitedto, (i) information permanently stored on non-writable storage media(e.g., read-only memory devices within a computer such as read onlyCD-ROM disks readable by a CD-ROM or DVD drive; (ii) alterableinformation stored on a writable storage media (e.g., floppy diskswithin diskette drive or hard-disk drive); or (iii) information conveyedto a computer by communications medium, such as through a computer ortelephone network, including wireless communication. Such signal-bearingmedia, when carrying computer-readable instructions that direct thefunctions of the present invention, represent alternative embodiments ofthe present invention. It may also be noted that portions of the productprogram may be developed and implemented independently, but whencombined together are embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a data processing system 100 in which the preferredembodiment of the invention may be implemented. In general, the dataprocessing system 100 includes a client (e.g., user's) computer 122(three such client computers are shown) and at least one server 124(five such servers 124 are shown). The client computer 122 and theserver computer 124 may be the components of the same computer system,or may be connected via a network 126, such as the Internet.

The client computer 122 includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 128connected via a bus 130 to a memory 132, storage 134, input device 136,and output device 138. The input device 136 can be any device to giveinput to the client computer 122. For example, a keyboard, keypad,light-pen, touch-screen, track-ball, or speech recognition unit,audio/video player, and the like could be used. The output device 138 ispreferably any conventional display screen and, although shownseparately from the input device 136, the output device 138 and inputdevice 136 could be combined. For example, a display screen with anintegrated touch-screen, and a display with an integrated keyboard, or aspeech recognition unit combined with a text speech converter could beused.

Memory 132 is preferably random access memory sufficiently large to holdthe necessary programming and data structures of the invention. Whilememory 132 is shown as a single entity, it should be understood thatmemory 132 may in fact comprise a plurality of modules, and that memory132 may exist at multiple levels, from high speed registers and cachesto lower speed but larger DRAM chips. Memory 132 contains a browserprogram 140 that, when executed on CPU 128, provides support fornavigating between the various servers 124 and locating networkaddresses at one or more of the servers 124. In one embodiment, thebrowser program 140 is a web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI), whichallows the user to display web pages located on the Internet. Memory 132also contains a browser configuration program 141 that, when executed onCPU 128, provides support for configuring the browser program settings(e.g., tool bars, homepage, bookmarks, and the like). The browserconfiguration program 141 can be separate from, or integral to thebrowser program 140.

Memory 132 also comprises various data structures 139 used by thebrowser program 140 and browser configuration program 141.Illustratively, memory 132 is shown containing a homepage networkaddress data structure 139A, a bookmark data structure 139B, a toolbarconfigurations data structure 139C, and a visited network address datastructure 139D.

Storage 134 is preferably a Direct Access Storage Device (DASD),although it is shown as a single unit, it could be a combination offixed and/or removable storage devices, such as fixed disc drives,floppy disc drives, tape drives, removable memory cards, or opticalstorage. Memory 132 and storage 134 could be part of one virtual addressspace spanning multiple primary and secondary storage devices.

Each server computer 124 generally comprises a CPU 142, a memory 144,and a storage device 147, coupled to one another by a bus 148. Memory144 is a random access memory sufficiently large to hold the necessaryprogramming and data structures that are located on the server computer124. As shown, the memory 144 includes a Hypertext Transfer Protocol(http) server process 145 adapted to service requests from the clientcomputer 122. For example, process 145 may respond to requests to accesselectronic documents 146 (e.g., HTML documents) residing on the server124. The http server process 145 is merely illustrative and otherembodiments adapted to support any known and unknown protocols arecontemplated. The programming and data structures may be accessed andexecuted by the CPU 142 as needed during operation.

FIG. 1 is merely one hardware configuration for data processing system120. A preferred embodiment of the present invention can apply to anycomparable hardware configuration, regardless of whether the computersystem is a complicated, multi-user computing apparatus, a single-userworkstation, or network appliance that does not have non-volatilestorage of its own.

FIG. 2 depicts a browser interface 200 integral to the browser program140 for use with the present invention and may be displayed by theoutput device 138 (see FIG. 1). In general, browser interface 200includes features (e.g., radio buttons and check-boxes) for selectingand customizing browser settings, bookmark data, previously visitednetwork addresses, and the like.

A menu toolbar 210 incorporates user file manipulation selections andbrowser setting selections such as “file” 211, “edit” 213, “view” 216,and the like. A navigation toolbar 215 includes features typically usedfor navigation such as a “back” button 256 and “forward” button 258 tomove backward or forward one or more network addresses previouslyvisited, a “favorites” button 259 to more quickly access specificnetwork addresses, a “home” button 255 to access the homepage networkaddress, and the like. Address toolbar 220 includes an address entrywindow 221 for entering network addresses to be located and browsed.

User-configurable toolbar 225 incorporates custom browser settings andfeatures. For example, a link to “www.French.com” 226 may be placed onthe user configurable toolbar 225 to allow the user convenient access tothat network address. Settings for the user-configurable toolbar 225 arestored in data structure 139C (shown in FIG. 1).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the “tools” menu selection 235 of themenu toolbar 210 is accessed (i.e., “pulled down”) a pull-down menu 245appears with sub-windows to display optional browser settings andfunctions. When “bookmarks” selection 270 has been selected within thepull-down menu 245, a second pull-down menu 260 appears for selectingspecific bookmark functions such as “adding” a bookmark 271, “editing” abookmark 272, “filing” a bookmark 273, and a “display bookmarks”selection 274. When “display bookmarks” selection 274 is accessed, athird pull-down menu 262 appears to display bookmarks stored in datastructure 139B. Each item of the “tools” menu 235 may be similarlyaccessed and may have an associated data structure 139 containingcontents specific to that item. For example, the information associatedwith “visited sites” 246 is contained in data structure 139D.

FIGS. 3–6 depict data structure 139 integral to memory 132 for use withthe present invention. Specifically, FIGS. 1–2 are referenced within thefollowing discussion of FIGS. 3–6 as is necessary. Each data structure139 is organized as a plurality of rows and columns. The columnsdesignate a particular category of information, including a time-valuedcondition, while each row comprises a record.

FIG. 3 illustrates data structure 139A containing homepage data records.A homepage is a network address established as a “default” addressaccessed upon activation of the browser program 140, or when the “home”button 255 is selected. Homepage data structure 139A comprises a day ofthe week entered in column 302, a time-range (i.e., duration) entered incolumn 304, and associated homepage network address in homepage column306.

FIG. 4 illustrates data structure 139B containing bookmark data records.Bookmark data provides the user a convenient means of storing andaccessing network addresses. For example, a user desiring to return to aparticular network address in the future, may store (i.e., bookmark) theaddress in data structure 139B by selecting the “add bookmark” selection271 as shown in FIG. 2. Data structure 139B comprises a specific day ofthe week column 402, time-range 404, and associated network address incolumn 406.

FIG. 5 illustrates data structure 139C containing toolbar configurationdata records associated with the standard toolbar 210, the navigationaltoolbar 215, the address toolbar 220, and the user configurable toolbar225. Data structure 139C comprises a day of the week column 502,time-range column 504, and toolbar settings column 506.

FIG. 6 illustrates data structure 139D containing visited networkaddress data records. Data structure 139D comprises a day of the weekcolumn 602, a time-range column 604, and an associated network addresswithin visited sites column 606.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow diagram of a method 700 for configuring settingsof a browser program 140 using a browser configuration program 141. Asnecessary, FIGS. 1–6 are referenced in the following discussion of FIG.7.

FIG. 7 is entered into at step 705 when the browser program 140 andbrowser configuration program 141 are activated. At step 710, thebrowser configuration program 141 is initialized and method 700 proceedsto step 715. At step 715, method 700 acquires the current time of day.At step 720, method 700 acquires the current day.

At step 725, method 700 retrieves a homepage data record from datastructure 139A associated with the current day and time of day andconfigures the browser program 140 to the homepage data record. Oneembodiment of a method 800 for configuring the browser program 140 to ahomepage data record is illustrated below with reference to FIG. 8.

At step 730, method 700 retrieves a toolbar data record from datastructure 139C associated with the current day and time of day.Subsequently, method 700 configures the browser program 140 to thetoolbar data record.

At step 735, method 700 receives browser program events. At step 740,method 700 determines whether the event is for displaying bookmark data.For example, a user selects the “display bookmarks” selection 274. Ifthe event is not displaying bookmark data, then method 700 proceeds tostep 750 described below. If the event is displaying bookmarks, thenmethod 700 proceeds to step 745 to display bookmarks available frombookmark data structure 139B associated with the current day and time ofday.

At step 750, method 700 determines whether the event is for rendering apage (e.g., web page). If the event is not to render a page, then method700 proceeds to step 760 described below. If the event is to render apage, then method 700 proceeds to step 755 to render the page.

At step 760, method 700 determines if the event is to configure thebrowser to the appropriate settings for the current day and time of day.If not, then method 700 proceeds to step 765 to handle other events. Ifso, the browser proceeds to step 762 described below. At step 762,method 700 issues a query to the user via output device 138 asking ifthe current settings are correct (e.g., a query window). At step 766, ifthe user answers the query affirmatively, method 700 proceeds to step735 to wait for the next event. If the user indicates that the settingsare not correct, or if the user does not respond within a predeterminedlength of time, method 700 proceeds to step 715 to reconfigure thebrowser program to the settings associated with the current day and timeof day. Thus, method 700 allows a user to maintain the current periodicbrowser settings even if the periodic interval has elapsed.

For example, assume method 700 is set to reconfigure the browser program140 for a first period French class at 7:00 AM and reconfigure thebrowser settings for a second period Algebra class at 8:00 AM. Considernow, a first period French student who decides to continue using thebrowser program settings beyond the French class period, until thesecond period Algebra student arrives. Thus, at the start of the Algebraclass at 8:00 AM, the French student continues to use the browserprogram settings associated with the French Class. At 8:00 AM, aconfiguration event is provided. At step 760, method 700 determines theevent is a reconfiguration and proceeds to step 762. At step 762, method700 issues a query via output device 138 to the French student asking ifthe current settings are valid. At step 766, the French student cananswer affirmatively (e.g., “yes”) and continue using the French classsettings. If so, method 700 then proceeds to step 735 to wait for thenext event. If not, method 700 proceeds to step 715 to configure thesettings for the Algebra class. If the French student does not answerthe query at step 766 within a predetermined length of time, method 700proceeds to step 715 to configure the settings for the Algebra class.

If the French student keeps the settings until the Algebra studentarrives, the browser program 140 may be reconfigured to the Algebraclass settings, either by a user-issued command, or by method 700 when apredetermined period of inactivity has elapsed.

In one embodiment, when the current settings being used differ from whatthe current period specifies, the program 141 prompts the user after apredetermined length of time to check if the current settings are stillvalid. If so, the program waits to prompt the user. If not, the method700 configures the settings associated with the current period. Forexample, while the French student is using the French settings duringthe Algebra period, method 700 will periodically query the Frenchstudent to verify that the current settings are valid.

FIG. 8 depicts a flow diagram of a method 800 for configuring atime-based homepage. As necessary, FIGS. 1–7 are referenced in thefollowing discussion of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is entered into at step 805 from step 725 (see FIG. 7). At step810 method 800 reads a first homepage data record from data structure139A including the time-range and day. At step 820, method 800determines whether the current day, and time of day, is within the firsthomepage data record time-range and day acquired from step 810. If not,then method 800 proceeds to step 810 to read the next homepage datarecord. Method 800 loops between step 810 and 820 until a matchinghomepage data record is found, or all homepage data records are read. Ifmethod 800 finds a matching homepage data record, method 800 proceeds tostep 825 to set the browser to the matching homepage data record.Subsequently, method 800 proceeds to step 815. If there are no homepagedata records matching the day and time of day, then method 800 proceedsto step 815 exiting back to step 725.

FIG. 9 depicts a flow diagram of a method for configuring time-basedtoolbar settings. FIG. 9 is entered into at step 905 from step 730 (seeFIG. 7). At step 910 method 900 reads a toolbar data record from datastructure 139C. At step 920, method 900 determines whether the currentday and time of day is within the toolbar data record time-range, andday, acquired from step 910. If the toolbar data record does not matchthe time-range and day, then method 900 proceeds to step 910 to read thenext data record. Upon finding a matching toolbar data record, method900 proceeds to step 925. At step 925, method 900 sets the browsersettings corresponding to the toolbar data record, then proceeds to step910 to read the next data record. Method 900 loops between step 910 and920 until all matching toolbar data records are found, or until alltoolbar data records have been read. If no matching records are located,method 900 proceeds from step 920 to step 915 and exits to step 735.

FIG. 10 depicts a flow diagram of a method for configuring time-basedbookmark data. FIG. 10 is entered into at step 1005 from step 740 (seeFIG. 7). At step 1010, method 1000 gets a bookmark data record from datastructure 139B.

At step 1020, method 1000 determines whether the current day, and timeof day, is within the bookmark record time-range, and day, acquired fromstep 1010. If the bookmark record does not match the day, and time ofday, then method 1000 proceeds to step 1010 to read the next bookmarkdata record. Method 1000 loops between step 1010 and 1020 until allmatching bookmark data records are found, or until all bookmark datarecords are read. During each loop, if method 1000 determines that amatching bookmark data record is found, method 1000 proceeds to step1030. At step 1030, method 1000 configures the browser to allow the useraccess to the bookmark data record (e.g., displaying the bookmarks inwindow 262) and returns to step 1010 to read the next data record. Afterall of the bookmark data records have been read, method 1000 exits tostep 745.

FIG. 11 depicts a flow diagram of a method for marking network addresslinks visited during a particular day, and time of day, on a currentlyrendered page. FIG. 11 is entered into at step 1105 from step 755 (seeFIG. 7). Marking the network address as “visited” may be done bychanging the color of the link, underlining the link, italicizing thelink, and the like.

At step 1120, method 1100 receives the HTML information from the currentnetwork address electronic document 146 containing links to othernetwork addresses. Method 1100 proceeds to step 1125 and acquires avisited data record from data structure 139D. At step 1130, method 1100determines whether the visited data record matches the current day, andtime of day. If not, method 1100 proceeds to step 1125. If a matchingrecord is found method 700 proceeds to step 1135 to determine whether ornot the visited data record matches a network address link obtained fromstep 1120. If not, method 1100 proceeds to step 1120 to obtain anotherlink. If so, method 700 proceeds to step 1140 and marks the networkaddress as visited and then returns to step 1120. Method 1100 loopsbetween steps 1120 and 1140 until all of the network addresses matchingthe day and time of day have been compared to the visited list at step1135 and marked at step 1140. At step 1125, after all of the visiteddata records are read, the method proceeds to step 1145 and renders theelectronic document 146 to the user with the previously visited networkaddresses marked as “visited.”

FIGS. 7–11 are merely illustrate methods for configuring selectedfeatures of a browser program 140. The invention contemplatesconfiguring any aspect of the browser program 140 with establishedtime-value conditions.

Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of thepresent invention have been shown and described in detail herein, thoseskilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodimentswithin the scope of the present invention. For example, the presentinvention has been primarily described within the context of time-basedbrowser configurations, established from methods 700–1100 for aspecified periods of time such as a day and time of day. In oneembodiment, the time-interval may be any interval of time.

In another embodiment, method 700 allows for manual reconfiguration toany period. For example, the Algebra student wishes to use the Algebrasettings at other times. Consider then case where an Algebra student hasan 8:00 AM class but decides to do extra credit work at 11:00 PM. Whenthe Algebra student arrives at 11:00 PM, assume the current browsersettings for 11:00 PM are set for an “open study” period. When theAlgebra student selects the “8:00 AM” configuration, then method 700configures the browser settings for 8:00 AM, the Algebra class settings.

In one embodiment, the data structures 139 are located on the server 124and made accessible to the browser program 140 and configuration program141 residing on client 122. This allows the browser configurations to beportable and available to a plurality of browsers via the network 126.In addition, the individual contents of 139 may be distributed withinthe network 126 between client components and server components. Forexample, the time-value condition may be stored on the server 124 whilethe browser configuration information is stored on the client 122. Whenthe time-valued condition is satisfied, the server 124 transmits anappropriate control message to the client 122 to indicate whichconfiguration should be loaded.

In another embodiment, some of the steps are performed by separateprograms in cooperation with the browser program 140 and configurationprogram 141. The separate programs may be located on the client 122 ordistributed within the network 126.

In one embodiment, the periodic configuration event and length of theevent are issued by a user. For example, assume a French Class isrescheduled to a different period. During the rescheduled period, theinstructor of the French class sends a configuration event to all of theclient computers 122 used for the class, via the network 126. The eventspecifies the French class settings for a specified length of time. Uponreceiving the event, all of the computers 122 configure to the Frenchclass for the specified length of time.

While the foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may bedevised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scopethereof is determined by the claims that follow.

1. A method for configuring a browser program executable on a computerconnected to a network of computers, wherein the browser program isconfigurable according to at least two predefined time-based browsersettings, the method comprising: providing a different predeterminedtime-value for each of the at least two predefined time-based browsersettings; determining whether either of the different predeterminedtime-values is satisfied with respect to a current time; and if so,configuring the browser program with one of the at least two browsersettings corresponding to the satisfied predetermined time-value;wherein the one of the two browser settings comprises at least onebrowser toolbar configuration and wherein the toolbar configurationcomprises at least one configuration selected from a group consisting ofa standard toolbar, a navigation tool bar, an address tool bar, and auser-defined toolbar.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thepredetermined time-values are user-defined.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the predetermined time-values are a day and time of day.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the one of the at least two browser settingscomprises a setting for at least one previously visited network addressaccessed by the browser program.
 5. The method of claim 4, afterconfiguring the browser program, further comprising: receiving at leastone electronic document containing at least one network address;determining whether the network address within the electronic documentis the at least one previously visited network address; and if so,rendering the electronic document in a manner indicating the networkaddresses within the document as being visited.
 6. The method of claim4, wherein the network addresses are stored as bookmarks.
 7. Asignal-bearing medium containing a program for configuring a browserprogram executable on a computer connected to a network of computers,wherein the browser program is configurable according to at least twopredefined time based browser settings, the configuration program whenexecuted by a processor, performs an operation, comprising: providing adifferent predetermined time-value for each of the at least twopredefined time-based browser settings; determining whether either ofthe different predetermined time-values is satisfied with respect to acurrent time; and if so, configuring the browser program with one of theat least two browser settings corresponding to the satisfiedpredetermined time-value; wherein the one of the two browser settingscomprises at least one browser toolbar configuration and wherein thetoolbar configuration comprises at least one configuration selected froma group consisting of a standard toolbar, a navigation toolbar, anaddress toolbar, and a user-defined toolbar.
 8. The signal-bearingmedium of claim 7, wherein the predetermined time-values areuser-defined.
 9. The signal-bearing medium of claim 7, wherein thepredetermined time-values are a day and time of day.
 10. Thesignal-bearing medium of claim 7, wherein the one of the at least twobrowser settings comprises a setting for at least one previously visitednetwork address accessed by the browser program.
 11. The signal-bearingmedium of claim 10, after configuring the browser program, furthercomprising: receiving at least one electronic document containing atleast one network address; determining whether the network addresswithin the electronic document is the at least one previously visitednetwork address; and if so, rendering the electronic document in amanner indicating the network addresses within the document as beingvisited.
 12. The signal-bearing medium of claim 10, wherein the networkaddresses are stored as bookmarks.
 13. A Web browser resident in memory,comprising: a plurality of time-based browser settings; a plurality ofpredetermined time-values, wherein each of the plurality ofpredetermined time-values corresponds to one of the plurality oftime-based browser settings; and configuration code for configuring thebrowser with each of the plurality of time-based browser settings whenthe corresponding predetermined time-value is satisfied by a currenttime; wherein at least one of the plurality of time-based browsersettings comprises a browser toolbar configuration and wherein thetoolbar configuration comprises at least one configuration selected froma group consisting of a standard toolbar, a navigation toolbar, anaddress toolbar, and a user-defined toolbar.
 14. The Web browser ofclaim 13, wherein the each of the plurality of time-based browsersettings specifies a different previously visited network addressesfile.
 15. The Web browser of claim 13, wherein the each of the pluralityof time-based browser settings specifies a different bookmark file. 16.The Web method of claim 13, wherein the each of the plurality oftime-based browser settings specifies a different homepage networkaddress.
 17. A method of configuring a browser differently based on acurrent time, comprising: upon launching the browser, loading a firstset of browser configuration settings based on a determination of thecurrent time; and after the expiration of some time, loading a secondset of browser configuration settings based on a determination of thecurrent time; wherein at least one of the first and second sets ofbrowser settings comprises at least one browser toolbar configurationand wherein the toolbar configuration comprises at least oneconfiguration selected from a group consisting of a standard toolbar, anavigation toolbar, an address toolbar, and a user-defined toolbar. 18.The method of claim 17, wherein the first set of browser configurationsettings has an associated first time value and the second set ofbrowser configuration settings has an associated second time valuedifferent from the first time value, and wherein the loading isperformed when the respective time values satisfy the current time. 19.The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second sets of browserconfiguration settings specify different home page network addresses.